can be good for men. “My own advice to folks is about one drink a day,” counseled Butler. “The older you get, the heavier the impact of the alcohol. But in moderation, alcohol not only has a relaxing effect, it can elevate levels of good cholesterol. Maintaining good hydration by
drinking water also helps kidneys filter impurities out of the body and keeps skin looking fresher.
BE MERRY. The very things that come with being social are good
for everyone’s health. According to Butler, simple touching, such as hold- ing hands with and hugging a loved one, works to lower blood pressure. Laughing with buddies helps keep blood vessels from restricting, and thus keeps the heart working more efficiently. Having an eye for beauty in our surrounding adds pleasure to life and helps keep us in a good mood. Engaging in close, loving and romantic relationships and staying in touch with lots of friends not only in- creases the quality of men’s lives, but
also helps battle depression and heart disease, suggests Dr. Mehmet Oz, a professor of cardiac surgery at Colum- bia University and a founder of the Complementary Medicine Program at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He frequently appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show before becoming host of The Dr. Oz Show. According to Oz, “The more sex
you have—provided that it’s safe sex and with a mutually monogamous partner—the healthier you will be. Men who have sex once a month are at more than two times the risk of heart disease and heart attack than men who have sex twice a week.” Complementing such healthy excitement, establishing a daily medi- tation practice also helps men stay calm, energetic, positive and more at- tuned to their own inner wisdom, says Donna Cardillo, a registered nurse who advises healthcare profession- als in the Gannett Healthcare Group. “Studies have also shown that regular meditation can lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, improve the body’s response to stress, and even improve sleep patterns.” Another way to be and stay
merry, suggests Cardillo, is to take part in some kind of volunteer work. “Volunteering has long been touted as a great way to give back and make a positive contribution to the world,” she remarks. “While all that is true, numerous studies, including the recent Do Good Live Well Study, by UnitedHealthcare, have shown that people who do volunteer work for two or more hours a week exhibit lower rates of depression and heart disease, live happier more fulfilled lives and have greater self-esteem and greater functionality, especially older adults.”
MOVE. Butler promoted moderate exercise to help improve cardiovascu- lar function, elevate mood and keep men fit longer, and his conclusions are supported by studies by the University of Maryland Medical Center, Arizona State University, and the Erasmus M.C. University Medical Center in Rotter- dam, the Netherlands. He found that, “One of the most frightening disabili-
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